AWB Chapter 52 Even after death, he still has to take the blame.
Chapter 52 Even after death, he still has to take the blame.
Only after being granted permission did the King of Chess enter the side hall of Fengxiang Palace. The number of casualties was quickly tallied. The fire was discovered in time, so only one person died in the fire.
When a servant came to report, Prince Yi was not concerned about it. What was the big deal about the death of a servant? He was only worried about where Zheng Youwei had gone.
According to the plan, he should be in Shen Li's side hall at this time, but it turns out that he is not; only Shen Li is in the side hall.
Zheng Youwei has been missing ever since.
He couldn't have left the palace, so where did he go?
"The body was found inside the Wanbao Pavilion; it was already charred. He..."
"Where?" Consort Zheng, who had been completely listless, immediately stared at the palace servant who came to report: "How could there be someone in there?"
She had been watching the fire ever since it started. The sandalwood in the Wanbao Pavilion was engulfed in flames, making it impossible for anyone to get in. The person inside was likely the arsonist.
"There was a gold belt buckle on the corpse in Wanbaoge. Her Majesty the Empress ordered me to bring it here." The palace servant waved his hand, and another eunuch brought over a tray.
When Yi Wang saw the belt buckle, his pupils suddenly contracted; it belonged to Zheng Youwei.
"What?" Consort Zheng obviously saw it at a glance as well.
She didn't care that she couldn't find him earlier, assuming that Zheng Youwei was out gallivanting somewhere. But when she saw him, her heart sank, and she fainted.
That night was such a blow to her that even her strong heart couldn't take it anymore.
"Mother Consort." Prince Yi frowned. "Help Mother Consort rest. I will go and see the corpse myself."
For some reason, he just felt that the problem lay with Shen Li, and he was determined to investigate the matter thoroughly.
"Your Highness, this is indeed the body of an adult male, and he did not die from a fire, but from poisoning," the imperial physician presented the final test results.
"Poisoned?" King Yi covered his mouth with a handkerchief, looking at the charred corpse in front of him that was completely unrecognizable as human, and had no way of knowing its true form.
"Yes, and they were cremated after death. If I am not mistaken, these blackened bones are exactly the same as those of the two who were bitten to death by the green snake," the imperial physician added.
The King of Chess looked at the imperial physician with his hawk-like eyes: "You mean he was bitten to death by a snake and then burned?"
"Exactly."
"How could that be?" King Yi's brows were full of doubt.
If someone poisoned her, it must have been Shen Li who did it, since Zheng Youwei's goal that night was to assault Shen Li, and he went to the side hall.
But if he was bitten to death by a snake, that doesn't make sense. Unless Shen Li can control the snake, it doesn't make sense.
But he was the one who sent that snake to the palace...
He looked at the fire before him; both the main hall and the side halls were reduced to ashes, and all traces and clues were gone. Even the most experienced detective would probably find nothing.
Without evidence, all suspicion is just empty talk.
“Your Highness, I asked the guards, and they said that only Young Master Zheng entered Anhua Palace that night, and no one else did,” said Yi Wang’s personal servant.
"What did the palace maid say?" he asked again.
"Peony took care of her the whole time, accompanied her to the outhouse and then took her back to her room. She only ran out when she heard there were snakes outside and needed to be rescued."
"The people around the Empress also said that Peony was there all along, and only went back to save Madam Gu after the fire broke out. Madam Gu ran out wrapped in a quilt, and it is said that she was terrified."
"And no one has seen Young Master Zheng since." The servant recounted all the information he had gathered.
The King of Chess couldn't detect any flaws in his explanation and asked unwillingly, "How's the investigation going with the Inner Court?"
"The Inner Court suspects that the young master secretly sneaked into Wanbaoge and set it on fire. Before he could escape, he was bitten to death by a green snake and burned in the sea of fire." The servant's voice grew weaker as he spoke.
The King of Chess was amused by these words, but his eyes were extremely sinister.
Good, good method.
The Emperor is furious about the fire in the palace and is determined to find the culprit. At present, it seems that only the explanation that Zheng Youwei set the fire is the most reasonable.
If this was arson, it would be terrifying. Not only should Zheng Youwei be killed, but he should also be branded with arson even in death.
He genuinely wanted to meet Shen Li in person, but since Shen Li was currently in Fengxiang Palace, it would be improper for a prince to have a private meeting with a court lady.
"Have someone tamper with Shen Li's food. It doesn't have to be poisoned, just enough to make her feel unwell."
He absolutely must keep Shen Li in the palace! He wants to confront her directly!
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
After the morning court session, Emperor Cheng rushed to the inner palace. The burning of the Wanbao Pavilion was practically the death knell for the Imperial Concubine, and he was in a hurry to go and see what was happening.
"Your Majesty, Grand Secretary Shen and Lord Gu request an audience," a eunuch announced.
"The two of them?" Emperor Cheng knew the reason as soon as he heard it, but he didn't have time to listen and said, "Tell them to wait at the palace gate. I will have the Empress escort Shen out of the palace."
Shen Li had already eaten the breakfast that was delivered when she received the news. Although it wasn't as lavish as usual, she didn't waste it, but the portion was a bit small, and she wasn't full.
"The imperial physician sent by Consort Zheng to take your pulse is already outside. He said he wants to check if you are feeling unwell and that you can leave the palace once you have recovered," Peony reported as she entered.
"No rush, are you all packed?" Shen Li asked.
"Yes, the guide is outside too. She said that the master and the magistrate are waiting for you at the palace gate."
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go." Shen Li took the lead and went out, but she was stopped by the imperial physician waiting outside the door after only a few steps.
"Madam Gu, the Imperial Concubine has sent me to take your pulse."
"I dare not refuse Your Majesty's kindness." Shen Li immediately raised her wrist: "But I am eager to return home, so please stay here."
The imperial physician didn't care where he was; he took out a handkerchief, covered Shen Li's wrist, and raised his hand to touch it with three fingers.
However, as soon as she opened her hand, Shaoyao stuffed several silver notes into it, and at the same time, Shen Li lowered her hand.
"Madam Gu, I haven't yet taken your pulse, you..."
"Lord Liu is forgetful. Didn't you just invite me? I'm fine. Farewell." Shen Li nodded slightly and left.
Physician Liu stood there, stunned. Could this really be possible?
As Shen Li exited the palace gate, she indeed saw two carriages parked there, one belonging to the Gu family and the other to the Shen family.
A coachman stood in front of the Gu family's carriage, while Gu Chang'an stood in front of the Shen family's carriage. The bleak autumn wind swirled up dust and sand, along with the hem of his crimson robe. His slender figure stood there in the wind, and it was unclear how long he had been standing there.
Only when he saw her come out did his eyes light up, his dark eyes suddenly seeming to shine three times brighter than the stars.
Shen Li walked quickly toward him. After not seeing him for more than twenty days, she really wanted to hug him.
Gu Chang'an turned to the side before she could approach, cupping his hands in greeting to the carriage: "Father-in-law, A-Li is out."
The sedan curtain was immediately lifted, which prevented Shen Li from rushing towards Gu Chang'an. She could only stop in front of the carriage and bow to the person inside, saying, "Father, your daughter greets you."
She was both amused and exasperated by this. It wasn't that she didn't want to see her father, but rather that she couldn't hug him if he were in her presence.
Her husband is so worldly-wise, how come he's so oblivious to this?